Pipe coupling



April 29, 1947. G, 1 HENRY l 2,419,642

PIPE COUPLING Filed Aug. 17, 1945 www IN VEN TOR.

Y 6&7 Henry ATZ'URNEYS Patented pr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,419,642 PIPE ooUPLlNdl Guy J. Henry, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 17, 194.5, Serial No. 611,002

2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to pipe or like fluid couplings; more particularly it relates to a valved coupling which normally closes an otherwise exposed fluid communication or ow line prior to its connection with a similar coupling, and which automatically establishes communication through the resultant line and couplings each time the latter are operatively connected.

An object of the invention is to provide a coupling of the above type which is simple and compact in construction and inexpensively manufactured, and which permits the aforesaid interconnection of a fluid pressure line with another line in which pressure may or may not exist, without interrupting said pressure and without the need of providing either line with individual external and manually controlled valve means.

A further object is to provide a coupling for application to the extremity of one conduit or pipe prior to coupling the same Awith a similarly equipped pipe; which unfailingly establishes full communication in the pipes when the coupling is effected; which unfailingly closes the line of flow through the pipes if the same are subsequently disconnected; which is devoid of projecting or exposed parts in unconnected condition, to prevent inadvertent opening of the line; and

which has removable means preventing entry of dirt into the line in said condition.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, but other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of the device.

A single embodiment of the invention is presented herein for the purpose of exemplication, but it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation, illustrating the exterior of the coupling in accordance with my invention operatively applied to a pair of coacting pipes or like fluid handling members;

Fig. 2 is a View in longitudinal vertical section illustrating coacting coupling members in spread relation prior to junction thereof by the coupling of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a View generally similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the coupling members in joined operative 2 position with a fluid i'low line established therebetween; and

Fig. 4 illustrates the valve unseating rod or element constituting part of the present combination.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral lli in general designates the coupling of this-invention, adapted to join a pair of aligned pipes or other similar fluidflow conduits, designated II, Il. Coupling llicomprises a. pair of similar coupling members I2, I3, appropriately secured, as by sweating or soldering to the free or exposed ends of the pipes II, II' respectively. A hollow circular iitting I4, constituting an internal housing for each of the coupling members I2, I3, is secured in such manner on the pipe ends. Each of the coupling members further comprises an external housing member I5 which is counterbored at I6 and frictionally telescoped over and sweated to the axially extending, annular wall or flange II of the internal housing I4. This wall Il, in conjunction with the outer member I5; defines an internal valve chamber I8 communicating with the exterior of the member I5 through a tapped port I9 in said member which is disposed coaxially with pipe I I or I I. An annular, axially extending valve seat 20 is provided at the inner end of said port, said seat facing internally of chamber I8. The port is tapped for the purpose of receiving a threaded closure plug 22 serving to exclude dirt from port I9 and the interior of chamber I3, which otherwise would foul seat 2li and clog the chamber interior, when coupling members I2, I3 were separated. Saidv plugs also seal the ports I9 against the loss of iluid or iluid pressure should the internal valves in chamber I8 (to be described) -have any tendency to leak while the members I2, I3 are uncoupled.

A stamped valve carrier and guide member 23 is floatingly mounted for axial movement in the chamber I8, having axially extendingv guide and stop legs 24 slidably engaging the internal wall of the chamber. A valve 25 of leather, rubber or other appropriate material is disposed in a cuplike disk 26 on the end of guide 23; and a screw 2l and coacting nut secure the thus constituted valve to the guide member 23 for movement therewith. The guide 23 is urged axially of the chamber, for sealing engagement of valve 25 with seat 2B by means of a coil spring 28 engaging the rear of said guide and bearing at its opposite end against the tting M It should be noted that valve 25 and guide 23 are disposed in their entirety in chamber I8 a substantial distance away from the mouth of port I9, hence are not subject to inadvertent impacts effective to unseat the valve. When the plug 22 is in place the port and valve are totally closed and protected.

One of the coacting coupling members I5 is provided with a conventional nut-like union element 29 slidable axially on the exterior thereof and provided with internal threads 30 which engage external threads 3| on the other member I5 to join the coupling members I2, I3, when desired.

A valve opening thrust rod 32 completes the coupling assembly, said rod being threaded at one end 33 for fixed reception in a threaded seat V311 on one of the valve fastening screws 21.

Prior to assembly, the coupling members I2, I3, appear as illustrated in Fig. 21, with Ythe plugs 22 in place, sealing and protecting the chamber I8 and valve 25. When the coupling is to be perfected, these plugs are removed and the thrust rod 32 screwed in place in its seat 311 so as to eX- tend coaxially with the associated chamber I8 through the port I9 and a substantial distance beyond the mouth of the latter. The members I2, I3 are then brought together lby screwing union 2'9 on threads 3i of the other member, whereupon the free end of rod 32 engages the adjacent valvesecuring screw 2l, a depression 35 being provided therein for this purpose. Such depression might of course be provided merely by duplicating the threaded rod receiving seat 36 on each valve. Further compression of the rod resulting from screwing the union into place causes the valves 25 to be vthrust apart with resultant unseating thereof from the seats 20 and establishment of full communication through the coupling. Guide legs 24 guide the valve accurately in this floating movement.

Were the springs 28 in the respective chambers I8 of unequal strength, the possibility would exist of only one of the valves being fully unseated. Therefore, to avoid such occurrence I provide a thrust rod 32 of sulicient length to insure opening of both valves, this in turn by causing vat least one thereof to be thrust suiiiciently away from its seat 20 to effect engagement of its guide andV stop legs 24 with the rear of chamber'l I8. In such position rod 32 projects 'sufficiently into the other port I9 to engage and unseat the opposite valve fully.

Such unseating action takes place immediately and automatically upon union of the coupling members. To prevent leakag-e during the taking up of the union 29, the members I5 are provided respectively with an annular sealing shoulder 36, a coacting groove .31, and a compressible washer 38 in the latter engaged by the shoulder.

In the event that the coupling is disconnected, separation of the members I5 is attended'by immediate and automatic seating of the valves,A in an` obvious manner.

The above coupling is fluid tight, exceedingly simple and inexpensive in structure and unfailing in operatiomas will be readily Vappreciated'by those skilled in the art. standard for either of the two coacting coupling members and, by being located internally insure against accidental actuation prior to complete coupling. Nevertheless, should it be desired t0 The parts are largely bleed either side of the line prior to coupling this is readily possible. When not in use the parts are fully shielded by plugs 22 so that loss or leakage due to inadvertent unseating of the valve is impossible.

I claim:

1. A coupling device adapted to communicate a pair of uid handling members, comprising a coupling element engageable on one of said members, said element communicating said member with the exterior through an internal valve seat, a yieldably urged valve in said element engageable with said seat to prevent iiow of iluid therethrough, and a valve unseating element normally disconnected from the valve in the uncoupled condition of 'said coupling element and disposable in xed engagement with said valve for thrust engagement with the valve of alike coupling element, to thereby unseat both valves when said coupling elements are drawn together, said unseating element and first named valve having relea'sable interconnection for ready removal of the unseating element from said valve without dismantling the coupling element.

2. A pipe or like coupling device adapted to communicate a pair of fluid transmission members, comprising externally ported coupling elements on said members providing valve chambers, each of said chambers having an internal valve seat between the chamber and the port of the element, valves in said chambers normally engageable with said seats in the uncoupled relation of the members to prevent flow of fluid there through, supports for the valves in the respective chambers, means securing the valves to said respective supports, springs normally urging said valves against said seats, a valve unseating element separate from said last named means, means to removably secure said unseating element to one ofthe valves for thrust engagement between said valves to unseat both thereof when said members are in operative communicating relation, and means engageable with the couplings on said aligned members to maintain the same in said relation, said unseating element beingproportioned to unseat both valves when operatively compressed therebetween and being readily removable from the valve to which it is secured without dismantling the coupling element in which that valve is disposed.

GUY J. HENRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

